Computer Help

[zglynn]

Hey Everyone

I'm looking to buy a new computer, but I need a little help.

I want a system that is going to be fast and powerful, and that can give me the best results in Houdini, (and other apps).

I was thinking 2 quad core chips, 16GB of ram, and 2 graphics cards.

GENERAL SPECS

-power supply- 650W ATX V2.2 power supply

-mother board- GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD5 SKT1366 ATX DDR3 2200 (6/24) 4xPCIe16/2xPCIe1/1xPCI Intel X58 A&2GBL&1394 88455

-processor- Core_I7 930 2.80GHz INTEL SKT1366 8MB Cache Retail W/Heatsink Fan 89451 X2

-memory- CRUCIAL CT25664BA1339x4 16GB DDR3 1333 Non-ECC 240-pin DIMM PC3 10600 74506x4

-OS hard drive- SEAGATE ST3160318AS 160GB ** 3.5-in Internal SATA2 7200rpm 8MB BULK 85982

-data hard drive- SEAGATE ST31000528AS 1TB **** 3.5-in Internal SATA2 7200rpm 32MB BULK 81549

-combo- SONY AD-7240S-0B Internal SATA DVD+/-RW BLACK 24X DVD Burner BUFFER BULK 80405

-dvd rom- SONY DDU1681S-0B Internal SATA DVD-ROM BLACK 16X BUFFER BULK 82274

-graphics cards- MSI N250GTS TWIN FROZR NVDIA GTS 250 . 1GB PCI-Express DDR3 2DVI HDMI Retail 86339 X2

Please let me know if it is lacking in some areas or if it over kill in any areas.

Any insight would be great!

Thanks

-Zach

[mightcouldb1]

I would get the new GTX 470.

You'd only be spending 50-100 USD more.

Also I would most definitely get a SSD for your boot drive instead of a HDD if you can afford it. The increase in speed is amazing.

[zglynn]

Thanks for the tips.

-Zach

[zglynn]

I was looking at different graphics cards and some people say go with a Quadro, and others say go with a GTX.

The Quadro FX 1800 and the GTX 470 are in the same price range, but I just don't know which one would give me better performance in Houdini/Maya.

Any thoughts?